Prepayment mechanism for gas meters



ec. 11, 1934. VON SCHUTZ 1,984,100

PREPAYIVIENT MECHANISM FOR GAS METERS Filed Aug. 7, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

In vemorx- Dec. 11, 1934. F. von SCHUTZ PREPAYMEN'I MECHNISM FOR GAS METERS 3 Sheets-Sheec Filed Aug. 7, 1953 Patentecl Dec. 11, 1934 1 V PREPAYMENT MECHANISM FOR GAS 1VIETERS Friedrich von Schtz, Berlin-Lichterfelde,

- (1ermany Application Augst 7, 1933, Serial N0. 684,051 In Germany August 12, 1932 4 Claims. (GI. 19490) 'Ihis invention relates to prepayment mechacoin of lower va1ua the wenn -is turned. by a nisms usedin connection with gas meters whibh certain angle and as the wrm wheel is held mechanisms stop the supply cf gas when the fixedly in it s pqsition the worm is-shifted. alqng prepaid quantity has passed the meter. its shaft in one diiection. Upon t'ha in sertion of 5 Inprepayment mechanisms of this type the a Coin of high valu'e the wenn whelds turned 5 element Which actuates 13he va1ve for stopping and thereby shifts the wormby one pitqh in the the flow of gas is operated. upon the insertion of Same direction. 1 When g iS pp {7118 W0Tm coins into the prepayment mechanism in such a wheel is -turned y 17118 counting mechanism 0f way that it opens the coin va1ve, whereas upon th8 gaS me ie in t directi0'n pposit 170 tha t 10 the consumpti'on of gas it is actuated in such a. ocasioned y't SWithing throllgh df 3 CO 10 way that it will close this valve when the inf lower va111e and, meshi ng with" ehe worm serted coins have been used. up. In the prepay w l, m v in h 0p'p direetion longitudiment mechahisms as hitherto known this ac- 11a11y0n itS Shaft; UI last l'eVolution in tuating eler'nent is upon the switching through fl direti0n 11116 W0rm iS o'llpledwith Eh 15 of each coin moved a certain distance in longi- 'llating Element II1QU-I1ted y 011 Same 15 tu'dina1 direction in one sense. When gas is sup- Shafii a11d p s a turning moyement to Same plied this actuating element is moved in opposite during the last P 0f last revoluti0ll- ThiS dir6ction and closes the coin va1ve while running movement 0f the 'atuating e e iS t ansthrough the last part Of this b k d way I mitted to the coin valVe, and serves for closing 2'(j Order to have 3, sufiicient passage for t gas same. It will be seen from this that it isnot the when the coin valVe is open the way travelled by last P 0f the longitudinal W y 0f h W0 the valve disk when Sa 1 lifted d closed Which is utilized for actuatingthe Valve but the must be large enough nd as th va1ve h 1 last part df the last revolution of the wurm. not clo'se unti1 the last prepaid coin is being used Thereby 13116 W3y Which haS t0 be mve11ed y 5 upthe distance travelled by the actuating ele the atllang e1ement p C10Sing lifting ment upon the insertion r Consumption respecthe coin valveis not limited to a fraction 01? one tive'l37 of onacoin cannot be chosen too small. Ditch 0f 11116 W0rm EIS 111 13116 e 0 k 0Wn On the other hand, if 11; should be possible 1:0 prepayment mechanisms: the pitch cf the wo prepay a rather 1arge number Qf coins, t e 1 thereiore can be chosen small enough 170 ensure 3 j way travelled by the actuating element becomes the possibility'of St0ring a high numbel Cf 001115 very long and gives cause to rather large dime'n- With0llt being compe11ed 0 dimension 1?he m sions of the prepayment mechanism. It is an anismexcessively 1argeobject of this invention to provide a prepay- T0 the Shaft 0f the w m o rotary ement mechanism Which in spitze of having a ments in Opposite dire0ti0n ve '60 b i largelifting way of the coin valve allows a. sufpartedone upon the SWitching thrqugh a 35' ficiently high number of coins m be pr'epaid coin Qf1ower value and one n the u pwithout increasing the dimensions of the devicef ti0n 0f This is"at17ainedby meanS 0f a Another object of this invention is to provide difierentival gearl vis.haft s i P .a Drepayment mechanism which is 130 be bper- Whee1s this are fixedlya'fconnected 5 ated by two kinds of coins of different value'and Shaft Q the Worm and r f ye i1 n. o size as f. i. shillings d pennies direct'ion by one su'1i whee1 actuated upon fche A further object of the'inventio'n is 110 provide insertion 'Of 3 00m f 10We1? Value 311d i means fc' r indicating ehe value of the inSerted o i d g fi h Sun VVhee1 upon 1 amont of money which has not yet been 1ised 13116'ollsulnptvionv Q a S" EVWO a d. 11118 It is still afuither objct of the invention t9 construction accordin 110 hi inv ntion. nt in provide a constru(ztioh which is Such that itis tW0 diifel'enfial rs"which a110ws .t0 i p impossible to operate the coin mechanism in three movemerits 110 the wurm, i. e. one upon the anpther Way than With these coins and that it is insertion of a coin of lower va1ue, one upon the impossible to any unauthb1ized. person to take insertion of a coin of high value and. one upon 50 the coin out ofth prepaymeht mechani sm again the supply of gas, without thest-z impartmehts after same has been switched. through. interfering with each other even if. theyfake According 110 this irivention there is provided plage at the Same time. a wenn shiftable along itsshaft 'and me shing' The accompanying drawings illustratean emwith a wenn Wh1. Up0n the insertion of a. bodiment of this invention in connectiri With 51. This sun wheel imparts by mez'ms 01 1;he planet wheels 53 and 54 a rotary movement 120 the shaf1; 37 which movement is opposi1ze to the one imparted to 117 when a coin of lower value is switched through. By this rotary moveme'n1; the worm 40 is shifted along the shaft 37 170 ehe right. When all the inserted coins excep1; one coin of 1ower value have been used up 1;he abutments 41 of the worm 40 come intocontact with the abutments 43 of 1;he actuating element 42 and upon the consumption of the gas corresponding 10 the value of this last coin the worm 40 will turn this actuacing e1ement which by means of its extension 44, 1ink 45 and 1ever 46, turns the .shaf1; 39 which serves for actuating th'e coin valve 23. 'If a coin of lower value is now. inserted 1:he worm 40 will turn backward and if a coin of higher value is inserted. 111 will move 1:0 the left and in both cases the worm whee1 re1eases the actuating elemen1; 42 which allows the coin valve 23 110 open under the influenceof. i1;s spring 32.

F01 indicating the va1ue 0f the inserted amount of money which has not yet been used up, a strip 93 carrying numbers is arranged near the fron1; of the box 36 shiftable in bearings 94. By means 01 a lateral extension 95 engaging vvi1zh a groove 96 this strip is coupled;

1:0 1:he worm 40. Furthermore a shaf1: 97 carrying a disk 98 is provided which shaft is coupled to 1;he shaft 37 of the worm 40 by means of a bevel gear system 99, 100. The disk 98 is provided With numbers 0, 1,.2 11 and also with a helical window 101 through which one 01 thenumbers on the soiip 93 can be seen. A window 102 in the fron1: plate permits 110 read 1;he numbers on the strip 93 representing 'hhe still available amount of Bull shillings, whilst the numbers on the disk 98 representing the still available am'ount of pence are to be recognized through 15he window 103. The .he1ical window 101 serves for.covering the numbers on 1:11e strip 93 which are adjacent 10 the one indicating the true number of fu11 shillings so that only one number is 120 be seen behind the window 102 in spite of the strip 93 being moved continuously-t1ivon the insertion cf pennies.

In order to prevent the coin operated 1evers 65 and 71 from being actuated in a fraudulent way by wire hocke or the 1ike, a screen 105 is provided between the insertion slots 78 and 79 in the top Wall 0f the box 36 and the channels 80 and 81 for leading the coins into the slots 76 and 77 of the coin receiver 74. This screen rests on the heads cf two pins 106 attached. the top wa11 of the box 36 and is provided with two slots 107 which a1low a diagonal movement 01 1;he screen. The coin operated leve1s 65 and 71 are provided. each With extensions 108 and 109 by means of Which the screen 105 is shifted. diagonally upon the switching through of a coin. In case someone should try 1:0 actuate the coin operated levers by a wire hook o1 the like introduced through the s1ots 78 01 79, the screen cann01; be shifted and thereby locks the coin operated. levers 65 and 71.

The screen 105 is provided. with an extension 111 projecting downward. by means of which 1she screen is shifted. 170 10ck the coin s1ots when the worm 40 is brought into its extreme 1eft hand position in order 110 prevent the insertion cf more money.

When a coin is switched through ehe device it drops in1;o the receptacle 112 as soon as it comes ou1: of contact with one 01 the surfaces 85 o1 86 respectively. When the coin receiver is turning back under the infiuence of the spring 113 the coins are stripped off by the arme of the coin operated levers carrying the contact surfaces 85 and 86 and thereby it becomes impossible to take the coin out again afte'r same has been switched through f. i. by means 013 a thread fastened to the coin.

When returningto its initial position the coin receiver 74 actuates by means of stop 114 the angle lever 115 which serves for pushing back the screen 105 by means 01 its downward projecting extension 116 and thereby the coin s1013s 78 and 79 are unlocked again.

I claim:

1. A prepayment mechanism 101. gas meters comprising a shaft, a worm movable ]engthwise on the shaf1: to and from an initial position of prepayment and rotating with said shaft, a worm wheel engaging; the worm and operative to move the same lengthwise on said shaft, a difierential gear consisting 01 two sun whee1s running 1oosely cm said sb.aft and two plane1; wheels provided with axes rigidly connected to said shaft, with one sun wheel having a driving connection with the gae meter 110 1013ate t-he shaft and the worm thereon; the rotation of the worm against the thrust of 1;he engaged worm wheel operating 130 move 1Jhe wo'rm on 1:he shaft aWay f1om its initial po'sition, a coin operat'ed lever and mechanism' actuated thereby 10 tu1n the other sun wheel 110 rot'ate the shaft in the opposite' direction 130 move the Worm toward. i1:s initial pr:payment positionoti the shaft, a second coin operated 1eVer and. a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by saici 1ever 120 rotate said. worm whee1 move the worm toward its initial prepayment position, a 'rotary coin receiver having 1;wo slots 101 receiving coins of differenc size and value and operating 10 move the coins int-o enga'gement wi1;h 1:he respective coin operated levers 130 actuate the latter as the receiver is rota1zed, an actuating element on said shaft, means for couplirig Said actuating element with said worm when the latter is moved. 1:0 its extreme position away frorn i1:s initial prepayment position on Said shaft, a'gas controlling valVe, and mechanism' operated by said actuating element for controlling the operation of the valve.

2. A prepayment mechanism for gas meters comprising a, shaft, a. worm movable lengthwise on the shaft to and from an initial position of prepayment and rotating with said shaft, a worm wheel engaging the worm and operative to move the same lengthwise on said shaf1 a ratchet wheel coupled 1:0 said worm wheel a difierential gear consis1zing of two sun wheels running loosely on said shaft and two planet wheels provided With axes rigidly connected to said shaft, with one sun Wheel having driving connections with the gas meter 110 rotate the shaft and 1she worm thereon, the ro1;ation of the worm against the thrust of the engaged worm wheel operating 130 move the worm on the shaf1; away from i1;s initial position of prepayment, a, coin operated. lever and mechanism actuated thereby 110 turn the other sun wheel 130 rotate the shaf1; in ghe opposite direction to move the worm toward i1;s initia1 prepayment position on the shaft, a second coin operated lever, a spring pressed pawl hinged 130 said second coin operated 1ever and engaging said ratchet wheel so that actuation 01 the 1ever rotates the ratche1:

wheeL and the. coupled: wurm Wheel t0: move the worm toward: its initial: prepayment position on the sha.ft a rotary coin receiver. having two slots for receiving coins 0f different size and value and operative move thecoins into engagement With the respective coin operative levers, an actuating element on said shaft, means for coupling said actuating element with the said. wurm When ehe latter is moved to its extreme position away from its initial prepayment position on said shaft, a gas controlling valve, and mechanism operated by seid. actuating. element for controlling the operation of the valve.

3. A prepayment mechanism for gas meters comprising a shaft; a wurm movable length- Wi'se on the shaft '00 and from an initial position of prepayment a.nd rotating With seid shaft, a. worm wheel engaging the warm and operative 110 move seid; worm lengthwise on said shaft, a difierential gear consisting of two sun wheels runm'ng: loosely on said shaft and two planet wheels provided wit h axes rigidly 001'1- nected to said= shaft, with one sun wheel hav ing a driving connection With the gas meter to rotatethe shaft and the wenn thereon the rotation of the wenn against the thrust of the worm wheel operatingto move the worm on the shaft away from its initial position of prepayment, a, coin operated lever and mechanism actuated thereby to tu.rn the other sun wheel to rot ate the shaf-t in the opposite direction move the wenn toward its initial position of prepayment; a second coin operated lever am]. a paw1 and ratchet-mechanism operat'zed by said lever to rotate said. worm wheel to move the wenn toward its initial prepayment position, a rotary coin receiver having two slots for receiving coins of different; size and va1ue and operating to move the coins into engagement with the respective coin operated= levers 110 actuate the latter as the receiver is rotated, an actuating element on seid shaft means fo1 coupling said actua.ting element with the said. Worin When the latter is moved to its extreme position away from its initial prepayment position 0n seid shaft, a gas controlling valve, mechanism operated by sa.id actuating element for controlling th'e Operaxbiom 015- thevailve, a:nd means fior'indi cating the: availazble. balhnce of Ehe: pnepaymeni; cnsi'stiimg of: -'a strip pmvided; witli indicating symboIs; said:stripbeingccom1ectedtta and shifi1- able.withasaidxworm am}? a dislr rotatively cun= nsctiac1ito+ saifl. shaft: anal displayinga indicaing symbols; seid disc havingt a helical WilidtlW adapted to-pa-rfily eover the symbuls 011 saic1= stvip. 1

4. A prepaymen mechanism for gas 'meters comprising 31 shafih. a wurm movable lengtha wise on the sha;ft to ami fromman: initia;l' p'osi tio'n. ofi prepayment: a-nd nota-tingr wiith sa1'd' sha-ft, a; worm Wheel engaging fihe-. wurm and. operative t0- move the Same lengthwiseon seid shexft, a: difilarentiak gear consilsting of two-sun; wheels. running. loosely an said shaxlit;- anti twa p1'a-net wheels provided; axes rigidllywonnected tosaid.shaft; With one sum wheel. having= a; driving eonneetion with the: gas meter 130'1d tate the sha.ft anal the wurm thereon, the rotition of the wenn againstthethnust of* ehe: an gagechworm=1wheel uperating: to: move t;he warm on the shaft; away from its initial positi'on, a coin opera-ted lever and: mechanism actuated therebyw turn the. other suni whee1 110 rotate= the: shaft in Ehe opposite: direction= to move the worm towagrdt its i'nifiial prepayment '0n the shaft,:a; second: coin operated lever andi a pawl and ratchetmechani'sm openatedj byseid l'ever' to rotate; seid wurm: wheel move the warm: tuward its initial' prepayment= position, a ro-- tary. (min receiver havi'ng owo: sl'ots fr receiv ing coins of difierent size and. value and operativeto move the coins intos engagement with the respective coin: operative levers, a-ni acouat ing; elemen-t cm. saiei shaft, mea;ns for coupli'ng said actuating element with the said Worin when Ehe. lattezr is mcwed 110 its;eximeme position awa* from:its initial positiorr um sa;id shaft, a controlling valve, mechanism operate-d' by said actuatingi element for nontrolling the operafiion of thevalve; andi' a. sh.ifiiablta= screen for' elosing the coin-receivingwslots= the' rot'ary recei'ver{ said screens .being a ctuated by thesein operated 1vers.

- FRIEDRICH? VON"- SCHTZ. 

